A Book Rap is an online discussion about a book conducted
via electronic mail. All you need is access to email, a love of books
and a willingness to share your thoughts with classes
throughout Australia and overseas.

There are a range of books to choose from each term suitable
for children 5 to 18 year of age.
Visit the Oz-Teachernet site to read about other projects.

This book rap will last about 5 weeks.
All you have to do is join the email list in October.
After everyone has introduced themselves,
the Book Rap Coordinator, Jane Carr
will post (via email) one ‘rap point’ each week.
These are questions about the book that challenge your students
to think about the story, its characters, plot etc.
The questions are developed to encourage higher order thinking skills.
For example - "What would happen if …"

After you’ve gathered your students’ responses to the Rap Point,
simple type them up and email it back to the list.
As everyone involved in the rap writes to the same list,
you can check the email messages and print out the ones
of interest to you and your students. These can be placed
on a display board with a map showing where
all the fellow ‘rappers’ live.

Here's a copy of the welcome message:

*******************************************************

How to Rap

1. Join the list apology if you have not joined already at
   http://rite.ed.qut.edu.au/cgi/lyris.pl?join=apology
    

2. Send a message of introduction addressed to
          apology@rite.ed.qut.edu.au
    Use the subject
          Introducing your-school-name

Include:
(a) an introduction of the members of your group,
(b) the name of your school
(c) the location of your school (city or town and state)

Please send one message for your group,
NOT a message for each member of the group.

3. Read the book and talk about it with your friends.

4. Check the mail daily and mark the other participants
on your Rap Map.This is a blank map of Australia
or the world. You may need an atlas to help you
locate the Rappers locations.
You might want to do this on a display board
in your classroom or library as well as your own map.

5. Check the email on October 12 for the first Rap Point message.

6. Read the Rap Point and prepare a response.

7. Mail your response to apology@rite.ed.qut.edu.au

8. Check the mail daily and read other Rappers responses.

9. Respond to other Rappers via the list apology@rite.ed.qut.edu.au

10. Look out for more Rap Points each week.

11. Look for the Rap Rap Wrap Up message to end the rap.

***********************************************
Book Rap Coordinator
Jane Carr
jcarr@thehub.com.au

***********************************************

Book Rap Project Manager
Cherrol McGhee
cmcghee@fan.net.au

***********************************************

Book Rap is an oz-TeacherNet Project
Lindy McKeown
oz-TeacherNet Project Officer
L.McKeown@qut.edu.au

***********************************************

During our rap, ‘experts’ on endangered animals will come online
to answer student questions. The illustrator (Gayle Kutuzov)
will also be available throughout the rap to help teachers
who are feeling artistic and would like to try their hand at linocuts.

So far teachers from South Africa, Victoria, Western Australia,
England, Cairns, Central Queensland and Brisbane
will be joining our Bilby Rap in October.
By responding to the rap points and sharing their knowledge
of local endangered animals we’ll be able to get a global understanding
of the plight of many animals, while sharing our love of books.